按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ungry members of the Grand Chair； perhaps even Cabell himself； mentor and father in his own curious fashion。 No； the data he transmitted were never enough for them： the trade arrangements and scientific exchanges too profitless to sate their appetites for progress。
We must have worlds to use as way stations for our glorious expansion； they would tell him； as though it were conquest they had in mind。 We must have discoveries that will further the glory of our race； as though it were immortality they were striving for。
Oh； Vard； he thought； filling his lungs with the ship's sweetened air； perhaps this next world will be the one your real masters would have me find。 One with wondrous things to offer； the miraculous things they feel certain are out here for the taking。
He stood up and stretched； as though reaching for the very stars beyond the reflective sheen of the viewport overhead。 〃Out among you somewhere；〃 he said to the fixed lights。 〃Out among you is the world I'm destined to discover。 By Valivarre's will； may the cause of peace profit above all。〃
Karen Penn tried one final time to inflict some damage on the lights； to extract a toll for whatever it was they had done to her Red teammates。 With disciplined hand and quieted mind she reconfigured the Alpha to Fighter mode and burned for the fortress's stern； where the lights had clustered on and around the reflex drive exhaust ports。 Jack was in plain view at three o'clock； his burn through the eerie glow of newspace plete； a Veritech pas de deux as they fell toward the ship。
The Blue team mecha； Battloid…configured； were hitting hard at the SDF…3's bow from just below the midline； head lasers emitting a deadly light of their own。
Karen planned on depleting her undercarriage lasers this time； taking no quarter； routing the light or luring it away； making it cry uncle or roll over and die。
She was shifting her weight in the padded seat； posing herself for the kill； willing the VT in； when all at once the fog of newspace lifted。
Her eyes were so fixed on the reticle of the Alpha's targeting screen that it took a moment for the change to register。 Then； suddenly； there was darkness where there had been glow； and the lights were gone。
〃Sonuvabitch；〃 she heard Jack exclaim。 〃We're home； gang…we're home！〃
But Karen was not buying it。 Though they seemed to be drifting through the inky blackness of home space； something was missing。
〃If we're home； Jack；〃 she asked over the net； 〃where the hell are the stars？〃
On the fortress bridge； Lisa mimicked Lang's on…screen head…scratching pose。 She did not understand it； either： One minute the lights were digesting critical portions of the ship； and the next they were gone。 Had the SDF…3 punched or been punched out of the hyperdomain？ she wondered。 And was that actually the real world outside the viewports or yet another black tunnel in the sky？
〃Stations shipwide report all clear； Admiral；〃 Forsythe said from across the bridge。 〃The lights are gone。〃
Lisa ran a palsied hand through her undone hair。 〃Damage assessment； Mister Price。 Immediate。 All decks。〃
〃Aye； aye； sir。〃
Lisa returned her attention to the …line monitor。 〃Well； what about it； Lang？ Are we home？〃
Lang looked at something off screen and shook his head。 〃No； Lisa； nothing has changed。〃
〃Maybe you'd better have a look outside； Doctor。〃 Lang's puzzled expression remained in place。 〃I have looked； Admiral； I assure you。 But present readings are identical to those previously assembled。〃 He snorted。 〃We're still a long way from home。〃
Lisa felt her heart race。
〃We've lost a good deal of our reflex drive systemry；〃 Lang continued as though to himself； pupilless eyes glazed over。 〃I'm beginning to believe that the reason the Veritechs were assimilated had nothing to do with defense against intrusion。 No； whatever was directing the lights had need of specimens。 Perhaps it has yet to make up its mind about us。〃
Lisa swallowed hard。 〃You make it sound like our pilots were appetizers； Doctor。〃
〃In effect； they were just that；〃 he told her； more animated suddenly。 〃By the time the lights reached the ship； they knew exactly what they were after。〃
〃We're crippled； then。 Is that what you're telling me？〃 The scientist shook his head。 〃Oh； no； we have some drive capacity left to us； although nowhere near what we'd require to go superluminal。 In fact； as things stand we would be as stranded in our own space as we are here。〃
Lisa let out her breath。 〃You're full of good news； aren't you？〃
Lang shrugged。 〃I'm sorry if I can't tell you what you'd undoubtedly like to hear。〃
Lisa waved a hand at the screen。 〃I'm the one who's sorry； Doctor。 But you've got to give me something to go on。 I mean； do we sit here and wait for those 。 。 。 things to e back and nibble away at more of our systemry？〃
〃As opposed to what； Admiral？〃 Lang wanted to know。 〃Christ； I don't know。 Move。 Somewhere。〃
Lang smiled； recalling Rem's real…time bubble theory。 〃Your husband suggested that I fashion us a world。〃
Lisa regarded him tight…lipped。 〃Then do it；〃 she said after a moment。
Minmei cradled Rem's head in her arms。 She pushed his hair back from his face and leaned an ear close to his parted lips。 She was certain he had ceased breathing for a time； but that heart…stopping moment was past； his exhalation ruffling the strands of hair she had hooked behind her ear。 Her breath was ing in shallow gasps as she pressed his head to her bosom； praying that he would regain consciousness soon。
Holding him like that； staring down at his beautiful face； she found herself walking through an ancient memory。 Tiresia； on the night of the SDF…3's New Year's celebration。 The Sentinels' ship； Farrago； had yet to arrive in Fantomaspace； and there she was with eyes only for Jonathan Wolff： But she remembered watching Rem that night while Wolff told her all the things he must have assumed she wanted to hear。 And she remembered gazing at him the way she had often observed others gazing at her； with a look people reserved for screen idols and heroes。 What might have happened if Rem had remained in Tiresia instead of joining the Sentinels？ she wondered。 Would his presence have altered events； given her the strength to steer clear of Edwards and grandiose plans？
It was Rem who had rushed to her side after she had killed Fdwards's horrible minion on Optera。 Her voice had awarded a personal victory； a fitting end； she had decided。 But on that same day Janice had walked out of her life forever。 And Lynn…Kyle so soon before that 。。。 It had been difficult for to go on when the memories of the sacrifices made in her behalf were so vivid。 When she had been so undeserving。 So evil。
But Rem had continued to stick by her in Tiresia； during the months she had languished under doctors' care； the Booths and years when she had so little will to survive。 And looking at him now； imagining the two of them walking Tiresia's Romelike streets together； she was not sure she was envisioning a past that almost was or a future that could be。 A kind of alternative present； she told herself。 One they could fashion together to erase the mistakes both Zor and Minmei had made。